To Be Hired, Be Referred!
Being recommended to an employer by a current employee is usually the best and fastest way to a new job. Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce says a referred candidate is five times more likely to be hired than a candidate who was not referred. Her advice is to target companies that seem to be good places to work, and then find out if they have employees doing what you want to do. If so, monitor the company for job openings and get to know people who work there. Sometimes employees who don’t know you well will be happy to refer you after they get to know you a bit, because of the opportunity to help their employer. Some companies even offer the extra incentive of a financial reward for employees who refer a successful job candidate!
Source: workcoachcafe.com, February 17, 2015
Cities that are Secretly Great for Tech Grads
Sure, Silicon Valley and New York get attention for being the best places to work in technology. But for new college graduates just getting started in their careers, paying $2,000 a month in rent in those cities is less than ideal! As graduates weigh their options, DataFox crunched the numbers to find the best cities that offer networking opportunities and growth potential – plus affordability. Making the list: Raleigh came in at #3, just behind Reston, Virginia, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
The report credits Raleigh with the following:
“The area boasts a fast-paced tech scene, bursting with intellectual as well financial capital.”
“Raleigh stands out as a great city for young people to make the transition from college to working life.”
“With both mentorship and career growth opportunities, Raleigh offers a chance for young graduates to grow personally and professionally.”
Source: Anisha Sekar, datafox.com, January 26, 2016
A Heads-Up on Financial Aid
Headache-saving changes are coming
Changes are coming to the financial aid process that will make it easier to plan ahead and pay for college.
Beginning October 1, 2016, students will be able to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2017-18 year. This pushes the application date up by several months from the current January 1 opening date. Students will also be able to use tax information from two years earlier.
The FAFSA is the first step in getting federal money, including Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study jobs.
The biggest mistake you can make with financial aid is assuming you don’t qualify, so even if you don’t think you’ll be eligible, you should apply! Complete your FAFSA today at cfnc.org.
